Sewing machine face-plates



y 31, 1956 A. J. MATUZAS 2,75

SEWING MACHINE FACE-PLATES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1954 mum 34 leg;

INVENTOR. Anthony J Mafuzas BY. W

ATTORNEY WITNESS July 31, 1956 A. J. MATUZAS 2,756,705

SEWING MACHINE FACE-PLATES Filed March 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MIME gunman,

; IN VEN TOR.

Anthony J. Mafuzas AT TORIVE' 1 United States Patent 6 SEWING MACHINE FACE-PLATES Anthony J. Matuzas, Union, N. J., asslgnor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. $1., a cerporation of New Jersey Application March 29, 1954, Serial No. 419,230

4 Claims. (Cl. 112-259) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a face-plate for a sewing machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a sewing machine frame with a face-plate which is simple of operation, attractive in appearance and, at the same time, inexpensive of manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a faceplate, having the above noted attributes, and which can be applied to a conventional type of sewing machine without requiring any changes in the structure of the machine in order to accommodate the face-plate.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the invention from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Fig. 1 represents a left side elevation view of a conventional type of sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 represents a fragmentary front elevation view of the free-end portion of a sewing machine frame embodying the present invention.

Fig. 3 represents a top plan view of that portion of the machine disclosed in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 represents a conventional type of face-plate secured to the free-end portion of a sewing machine of the type illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 represents a top plan view of that portion of the sewing machine and face-plate illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 represents, on an enlarged scale, a sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the present invention is incorporated in a conventional type of sewing machine frame which comprises the usual upstanding hollow column portion 10 from which extends a horizontally disposed bracket-arm 11 terminating in a hollow head portion 12.

Mounted within the head 12 in a conventional manner for vertical reciprocation is a needle-bar 13 carrying at its lower end portion the usual eye-pointed needle 14. Also mounted in the head 12 in the usual manner is a resser-bar 15 carrying at its lower end portion a presserfoot 16 which cooperates with a feeding mechanism gen erally designated by the numeral 17.

As is conventional with sewing machines of the present type, the hollow head 12 is formed with a horizontal opening 18 bounded by a substantially continuous vertical wall surface 19. Within this hollow portion of the head 12 is disposed the usual needle thread take-up mechanism of which only the take-up arm 211 is illustrated in the present drawings. In machines of the type illustrated in the present drawings, the take-up element 20 is adapted to be oscillated up and down in a vertical plane for the 2,756,705 Patented July 31, 1956 "ice purpose of controlling a needle-thread which is designated by the numeral 21. As is customary, the thread 21 is drawn through an aperture 22 formed in the free-end portion of the take-up element 20.

As hereinabove noted, the present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a face-plate for a conventional type of sewing machine. With particular reference to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the present face-plate comprises a substantially vertically disposed plate-like body 23 having a substantially horizontally disposed shelf 24 projecting from the top of the plate-like body with the shelf having a vertically disposed aperture 25 therein. As may be best seen from Figs. 3 and 4, the aperture 25 is in the form of an elongated slot disposed directly within the shelf portion 24 of the face-plate.

As may be best seen from Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the faceplate 23 is disposed over the head opening 18 and against the vertical wall surface 19 so as to cover the opening of the head in a conventional manner. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the face-plate 23 is provided with a vertically elongated slot 26 which accommodates the take-up element 20 in a conventional manner. Also, the face-plate 23 may be provided with a needle-thread tension unit which is generally designated by the numeral 27. The tension unit 27 may be secured to the face-plate in a conventional manner as is illustrated in the United States patent of Chason, No. 1,862,658, June 14, 1932.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it is to be understood that the shelf portion 24 of the face-plate 23 is adapted to overlie a hook element, generally designated as by the numeral 23, which hook element projects from the wall surface 19 of the sewing machine head 12. More specifically, the hook element 28 is in the form of a screw having its one end portion 29 thereof threaded in the usual manner within a hole 30 formed in the upper portion of the sewing machine head 12. As may be particularly observed from Fig. 4, the hook element is provided with a cylindrical shank portion 31 which abuts directly against the vertical wall section 19 of the sewing machine head 12 and, at the free-end portion of the hook element, there is provided a cylindrical head 32 having a screw driver slot 33 formed therein and providing, in effect, an upstanding hook portion 34 which is adapted to be received within the vertically disposed slot 25 of the face-plate 23.

Cooperating with the hook element 28 for the purpose of removably securing the face-plate 23 over the hollow opening 18 of the sewing machine head 12 is a conventional type of thumb screw comprisinga head 35 and a shank 36 which is removably threaded directly into the wall of the head 12 in a conventional manner. The lower portion of the face-plate 23 is provided with an aperture 37 for receiving the shank of the screw.

From the above, it is to be understood that the faceplate 23 is adapted to be removably secured over the hollow opening 18 of the sewing machine head 12 in a manner such that the shelf 24 of the face-plate overlies a portion of the hook 28 and so as to have the shelf opening 25 receive the hook whereby the latter will function in conjunction with the thumb or locking screw 35 for the purpose of maintaining the face-plate in its operative position. In order to remove the face-plate from the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the locking screw 35 is first removed and thereafter the faceplate may be lifted off of the hook element 28.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the face-plate 23 is provided in a conventional manner with a thread-guiding slot 38 which is adapted to receive the needle-thread 21 as it is drawn from a source of supply not herein illustrated. From the guide aperture 38, the thread is disposed between the tension discs 39 and 40, see Fig. 3, and then drawn under the check spring 41 from which the thread is directed through the take-up eye 22. From the take-up eye 22 the thread is directed downwardly to pass through the eye portion of a threadguide 42 formed of a wire which is carried in a conven tional manner by the face-plate 23. From the guide 42, the thread passes through another guide 43 carried by the lower portion of the needle-bar 13 and finally the thread is directed to the eye of the needle 14.

From Figs. 1 and 2, it is to be particularly observed that as the thread is led from the take-up element 20 to the stationary guide 42 it is drawn across the outer surface of the face-plate 23. In order to protect this outer surface of the face-plate 23 from excessive wear which would produce unsightly markings upon the painted face-plate, the present face-plate is provided with an area generally designated by the numeral 44, which area is plated with a hard metallic coating such as chromium or nickel. Outside of the area 44 the outer surface of the face-plate 23 may be painted or lacquered in a usual manner so as to blend with the surface of the sewing machine frame. The

hardened metallic surface defined by the area 44 will be engaged by the thread 21 and will function to protect the face-plate from being marked in an unsightly manner.

In view of the above, it is to be understood that the present face-plate 23 is adapted to be used in conjunction with a conventional type of sewing machine without requiring the sewing machine to be altered in any manner whatsoever. In this connection, reference may be had to Fig. 5 wherein there is illustrated a sewing machine having a conventional type of face-plate 45 secured over the hollow portion of the head 12 of the machine by means of a thumb screw 35 and a hook element 28. It is to be appreciated that the hook element 28 and the locking screw 35 are the same elements as is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. However, in its conventional use, the hook element 23 is adapted to cooperate with a face-plate 45, the upper portion of which is provided with an enlarged aperture 46 which is large enough to receive the head portion 32 of the hook 28 so that the face-plate 45 may be removed from the head 12 of the sewing machine.

Communicating with the aperture 46 is a smaller circular aperture 47 which permits the face-plate 45 to rest upon the shoulder portion 31 of the hook element 28 in a manner as is illustrated in Fig. 7. From this it will be appreciated that the novel face-plate 23 illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 may be readily applied to the conventional sewing machine in lieu of the conventional face-plate 45 without requiring any changes whatsoever in the structure of the sewing machine. The present face-plate 23 forms a coverplate which is simple of operation and attractive in appearance, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that it is at the same time inexpensive of manufacture.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, What I claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head portion formed with a horizontal opening bounded by a substantially continuous vertical wall surface, and a hook element in the form of a horizontally disposed shank projecting from said wall surface at the top of said head, said shank having at its free end portion and spaced from said wall surface an upwardly projecting flange; the improvement which consists in the provision of a face-plate comprising a substantially vertically disposed plate-like body having 6 vertically disposed aperture therein, said face-plate being removably disposed over said head opening and against said vertical wall surface with said shelf overlying said hook with said flange being received within said shelf aperture.

2. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head portion formed with a horizontal opening bounded by a substantially continuous vertical wall surface, and a hook element projecting from said wall surface at the top of said head, said hock element comprising a substantially cylindrical shank extending horizontally from said vertical wall surface and terminating in an enlarged head; the improvement which consists in the provision of a face-plate comprising a substantially vertically disposed plate-like body having a substantially horizontally disposed shelf projecting from the top of said plate-like body with said shelf having a vertically disposed aperture therein, said face-plate being removably disposed over said head opening and against said vertical wall surface with said shelf overlying the shank portion of said hook and receiving the head portion of said hook within said shelf aperture, and means carried by the lower portion of said head for releasably locking said face-plate against said head.

3. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head portion formed with a horizontal opening bounded by a substantially continuous vertical wall surface, and a hook element in the form of a screw threaded into said wall surface at the top of said head, said screw having at its free end an enlarged head horizontally spaced from said wall surface; the improvement which consists in the provision of a face-plate comprising a substantially vertically disposed plate-like body having a substantially horizontally disposed shelf projecting from the top of said plate-like body with said shelf having a vertically disposed slot therein,

said face-plate being removably disposed over said head opening and against said vertical wall surface with said shelf overlying a portion of said screw and receiving within its slot a portion of said screw head.

4. In a sewing machine having a frame including a bracket-arm terminating in a hollow head portion formed with a horizontal opening bounded by a substantially continuous vertical wall surface, a hook element in the form of a screw threaded into said wall surface at the top of said head, said screw having at its free end an enlarged head horizontally spaced from said wall surface, and a thumb screw removably threaded into said wall surface at the bottom of said head; the improvement which consists in the provision of a face-plate comprising a substantially vertically disposed plate-like body having a substantially horizontally disposed shelf projecting from the top of said plate-like body with said face-plate having a horizontally disposed aperture formed in its lower portion and a vertically disposed slot formed in its shelf portion, said face-plate being removably disposed over said head opening and against said vertical Wall surface with said shelf overlying a portion of said first mentioned screw and receiving within its shelf slot a portion of said screw head while its lower aperture freely receives the shank portion of said thumb screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,467,672 Ingwer Apr. 19, 1949 

